June 23, 2014 Scott Faulk Transportation IndustryAnalyst U.S. Department ofTransportation Office ofAviation Analysis EAS & Domestic Analysis Division 1200 NewJersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 

### SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION

RE: Essential Air Service Proposal Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Staunton, Va. Dear Mr. Faulk: The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission (SHD) is the regional government agency representing thefive member localities and jurisdictions that constitutethe Airport Commission. These include: the Cities ofStaunton, Harrisonburg and Waynesboro; and the Counties ofAugusta and Rockingham. Iam writingto you today as Chairman ofthe Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission and as the representative ofthe broader community regarding the Department of Transportation's recent request for proposals to provide essential air service to our community. Thank you forforwardingthe proposals we received and allowing us the opportunityto submit community comments. While we are appreciative ofall proposals received and feel fortunate to have interestfrom morethan one carrier, we endorse the May 27, 2014 proposal from SilverAirways/DBA as United Express/United Connection, the incumbent carrier atSHD. Due tothe uniqueness ofour market, thefact it is one ofthe fastest growing regions in the Commonwealth ofVirginia and thus the need for ourcommunityto have international access to the global markets, we feel the combination Silver and their code-share partnership with United and service to United's hub atWashington Dulles is the best option. We also feel Silver's use ofthe Saab 3408+ aircraftwith its seat capacity and modern amenities are preferable for our community. With this current service and the remarkable growth in ourcommunity, passengertraffic has increased significantly and we feel strongly the current service should continue. Thank you in advance foryour willingness to allow us to review the proposals and provide comment on behalfofthe community. Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel to contact Greg Campbell, the Airport Commission's Executive Director, or me at any time.



### PO 

### Box 125 · 77 

### Aviation Circle · Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486 

### USA

. 540.234.8304 · Fax: 540.234.8538 · 

### flyshd.com COUNTYOF AUGUSTA

GeraldW. Garber CITY OF STAUNTON MaggieA. Ragon CITY OF HARRISONBURG Joseph B. Bowman CITY OFWAYNESBORO COUNTY OF ROCKINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JeffreyA. Ward William G. O'Brien Gregory W. Campbell

### SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION

We sincerely appreciate the Departments efforts on our behalfto secure critical airservice to our community. Thank you in advance foryour assistance. Sincerely,

Gerald W. Garber, Chairman Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission

cc: SVRA Commission Members Lacey B. King, 

### Jr., Mayor, Staunton, Va. Stephen F. Owen, City Manager, Staunton, Va. Randy Burdette, Director, Virginia Department ofAviation



### PO Box 125 · 77 Aviation Circle · Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486 USA

. 540.234.8304 · Fax: 540.234.8538 · flyshd.com COUNTY OF AUGUSTA

GeraldW. Garber CITY OF STAUNTON MaggieA. Ragon CITY OF HARRISONBURG Joseph B. Bowman CITY OFWAYNESBORO COUNTY OF ROCKINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JeffreyA. Ward William G. O'Brien Gregory W. Campbell